What was the main difference between European colonies and their protectorates in Africa?

The main difference between European colonies and their protectorates in Africa was the degree of control that the European power exercised over the territory. Colonies were directly ruled by the European power, which meant that the European power had full control over the political, economic, and social policies of the colony. Protectorates, on the other hand, were nominally independent states, but the European power exercised significant influence over the protectorate's foreign policy and sometimes over its internal affairs as well.

In practice, the distinction between colonies and protectorates could sometimes be blurred. For example, some colonies were granted a degree of autonomy, while some protectorates were effectively controlled by the European power. Nevertheless, the basic distinction between colonies and protectorates remained: colonies were directly ruled by the European power, while protectorates were nominally independent states.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between European colonies and protectorates in Africa:

| Colony | Protectorate |

| --- | --- |

| Directly ruled by the European power | Nominally independent state |

| European power has full control over the political, economic, and social policies of the colony | European power exercises significant influence over the protectorate's foreign policy and sometimes over its internal affairs as well |

| Distinction between colonies and protectorates could sometimes be blurred | |